EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (Reuters) - Thirteen-year-old Tom Daley, one of diving's youngest champions, won the European platform title on Monday.

Daley, who turns 14 on May 21, shot from sixth to first with the fourth of his six final dives and survived a late charge from German World Cup champion Sascha Klein to win by just over four points.

"If somebody had told me at Christmas I would be a European champion at Easter my answer would have been 'go away'," Daley told reporters.

"It was a perfect competition for me. If it seems as if I was without nerves I can tell you I have nerves and they were quite tense."

Daley, who qualified for the Beijing Olympics in August by finishing seventh at last month's World Cup in the Chinese capital, earned four perfect 10s with his fourth-round armstand back triple somersault for a score of 94.40 points.

In a field including Russian world champion Gleb Galperin, he consolidated his advantage with his next effort, a back 3 1/2 somersaults which drew four more 10s from the seven judges and 97.35 points.

Daley's huge lead became vulnerable with a lower mark for his concluding reverse 3 1/2 somersaults, leaving 22-year-old Klein with a realistic target for gold.

The German, diving last, scored higher than the little Briton with his final dive but it was not quite enough.

Daley amassed 491.95 points from his six final dives. Klein took the silver with 487.60 and Francesco dell'Uomo of Italy bronze (481.30).

The championships were first contested in 1926 and available records do not show a younger men's European diving champion than Daley.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)